About The Writers

Monday, February 23, 2015

Fifty Shades of Write Away

by Jenny

Monday morning confession: I have not read Fifty Shades of Grey, and this essay, which appears in Write Away: A Year of Musings and Motivations for Writers (by Kerrie L. Flanagan and yours truly) is about as racy as I get. But it does include nudity, both literal and figurative, a Seinfeld reference, and a cameo by Bradley Cooper. (Okay, I lied about that last part, but it would be awesome because maybe he won an Oscar last night??)

Writing Naked

February 1st is Working Naked Day. Didn’t have it
on your calendar, you say? Me, neither. I ran across it
that morning while foraging in the Internet
wilderness. According to Founder and Home Office
Expert Lisa Kanarek, “Working Naked refers to the
fact that when we begin working from home, we’re
stripped of all of the corporate support that makes
up our day-to-day existence.” It also means actually
working sans clothing.

I wondered who would be crazy enough to do it.
Upon further reflection, I realized that my work is
writing (though it’s frustratingly pro bono these
days), and I write at home. Maybe I should be crazy
enough to give it a try. What the heck, I might learn
something about myself in the process.

I gathered my nerve, and, after boys and husband
were out the door and the dog was walked, I
retreated to the privacy of my basement computer,
fired up the space heater, stripped down to my
slippers, and committed myself to one hour of nude
writing. No joke. I really did.

How did it go? Let’s just say it was a looong
hour, but I made it through . . . barely (excuse the
pun). I wish I could say I felt liberated, enlightened,
or even merely silly. But, frankly, it was an
uncomfortable experience. And not just because I
was freezing. In the spirit of the classic Seinfeld
episode comparing “good naked” and “bad naked,” I
confess I am not a fan of casual nudity. If the UPS
man is ever going to surprise me in the buff (mine,
not his), he’s going to have to deliver right to my
shower door.

I’m certain that Working Naked Day will not be
an annual event for me, but I’m glad I tried it. First of
all, I was immune to my normal distractions. I had
zero urge to wander up to the kitchen for a snack.
The thought of answering the phone made me blush.
So, I got a lot of writing done.
It also made me grateful for all the times I don’t
have to work naked, literally or figuratively. I may
not have “corporate support,” but I’m so fortunate to
have a great network of family and friends, and the
wonderful Northern Colorado Writers community.

Last but not least, this experiment encouraged me
to consider how much time I spend in my comfort
zone. Like many writers, I love my comfort zone. If I,
of all people, can work naked for an hour, I can certainly expand my writer’s horizons in other small
ways. Fully clothed, of course.